For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 18, 2001
Remarks by the President in Recognition of Cuba Independence Day
The East Room
Listen to the President's Remarks
3:30 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Siente
se. (Laughter.) Bienvenidos a la casa de todos
que -- quien viven en nuestra grande pais. Welcome to the
White House.
Mr. Secretary, you were an easy
pick. (Laughter.) There's no question you'd do a
fabulous job on behalf of America. Thank you for taking the
assignment. (Applause.)
Another member of my team who is here who
helps us have a strong and certain foreign policy is Senorita
Condoleezza Arroz. (Applause and laughter.) That
means rice. (Laughter.)
Senator Graham, thank you for being
here. We're honored by your presence. I know
you're a strong friend of
Cuba's. (Applause.) And, of course, too -- and
it's great that Ileana and Lincoln are with us, as well. Thank
you. (Applause.)
I noticed when Gloria sang the Cuban Anthen,
that the first two people on their feet were the two Congresspeople
from South Florida. And, Lincoln, I did notice that you were
braced at attention, too, I might add. Proud. So it's great
to have you all here.
Gloria, thank you very much. Sorry
you brought your husband -- no. (Laughter.) We love
Emilio. He's a good
man. (Applause.) And, Gloria, thank you for
coming and bringing tu nanita. Thank you all for being
here. We love your music. Your husband has been such a good
friend of me and my family, and so have you.
The great poet -- man, you must be a strong
person, with a beautiful heart, and a wonderful, artistic
touch. Angel, welcome to the White House.
(Applause.) And Lizebet, thank you for coming. I
don't think many in America know your story, that you were picked up on
a raft, and you played The National Anthem on your violin when you were
picked up. That's beautiful. (Applause.)
And finally -- por fin -- "la voz" --
(laughter) -- John Secada. Thank you, John for being
here. I appreciate you very much. Glad you're
here. (Applause.)
It's a great honor for me to welcome you all
to the White House to celebrate May 20th, Cuban Independence
Day. It's a day when we honor the warm family ties, the
faith, the history and heritage that unite our two peoples.
As Angel and Lizebet and so many others remind
us, it is a day when we pay thanks to the magnificent contributions of
Cubans to our national life. They enrich every field, from science to
industry, to the arts, including my favorite performing art
--baseball. (Laughter and applause.) But mostly,
today is a day when we reflect on the greatnesses of Cuba's
far-too-distant past and the brightness of its future; of how,
together, we can hasten that future's arrival.
Just last month I returned from the Summit of
the Americas in Quebec City. Thirty-four democratic nations
committed ourselves to building a hemisphere of freedom. But
one nation was not there, because that nation has a leader who has no
place at the democratic table. Indeed, his nation is not
free, but enslaved. He is the last holdout of the
hemisphere, and time is not on his side. (Applause.)
The Cuban independence we celebrate today was
the product of the enormous courage of the Cuban people and the
statesmanship of leaders such as Jose Marti. The tyranny
that rules Cuba today stands as an insult to their
sacrifices. But we're confident in one fact, Cuban courage
is more powerful and enduring than Castro's legacy and tyranny.
Our nation has an economic embargo against
Castro's regime. But today, of all days, it is important for
us to remember that our goal is not to have an embargo against Cuba; it
is freedom in Cuba. (Applause.)
The United States welcomes the opportunity to
trade with Cuba when there are entrepreneurs who are free to trade with
us. We welcome the opportunity to build diplomatic relations
with Cuba when the Cuban government is a democracy, when the Cuban
people can be free from fear to say what they think and choose who
shall govern them.
The sanctions our government enforces against
the Castro regime are not just a policy tool; they're a moral
statement. My administration will oppose any attempt to
weaken sanctions against Cuba's government until the regime --
(applause) -- and I will fight such attempts until this regime frees
its political prisoners, holds democratic, free elections, and allows
for free speech.
The policy of our government is not merely to
isolate Castro, but to actively support those working to bring about
democratic change in Cuba. (Applause.) And that is why we
will support legislation like the Cuban Solidarity Act, and the Cuban
Internal Opposition Assistance Act. (Applause.) History
tells us that forcing change upon repressive regimes requires
patience. But history also proves, from Poland to South
Africa, that patience and courage and resolve can eventually cause
oppressive governments to fear and then to fall.
One of the surest ways to foster freedom is to
give people unlimited access to unbiased information. The
strongest walls of oppression can't stand when the floodgates of modern
telecommunications are opened. We must explore ways to
expand access to the Internet for the average Cuban
citizen. And we must strengthen the voices of Radio and TV
Marti, with strong leadership. (Applause.) And we
will strengthen those voices with strong leadership and new direction.
Today -- today I say this to Mr.
Castro: If you are confident your ideas are right, then stop
jamming the broadcasts of those whose ideas are
different. (Applause.) And until you do, we will
look for ways to use new technology, from new locations, to counter
your silencing of the voices of liberty. (Applause.)
Last month, the U.N. Human Rights Commission
called on Castro's regime to respect the basic human rights of all its
people. The United States leadership was responsible for
passage of that resolution. (Applause.) Some say we paid a
heavy price for it. But let me be clear: I'm very
proud of what we did. (Applause.) And repressed
people around the world must know this about the United
States: We might not sit on some commission, but we will
always be the world's leader in support of human
rights. (Applause.)
Today, all our citizens are proud to stand
with all Cubans, and all Cuban Americans who love
freedom. We will continue to stand with you until that day,
hopefully not in the too-distant future, when all Cubans breathe the
heady air of liberty. (Applause.)
We are proud to stand with those Cubans who,
today, enrich our nation with their energies and
industry. We're proud to stand with the farmers and workers
of Cuba who dream of liberty's blessings. We are proud to
stand, too, with those who are suffering and dying in jails because
they had the courage to speak the truth.
Y aqui en este Casa Blanca, estamos feliz de
cultivar "una rosa blanca en Julio como en
Enero." (Applause.) Y por fin, viva Cuba libre.
(Applause.) Thank you all.
END 3:45 P.M. EDT
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